LOCAL HEROES PREPARE TO BATTLE IT OUT FOR ELITE GLORY AT THIS WEEKEND’S TRIYAS

Eighth edition of UAE’s biggest first-timer focused triathlon will take place on February 16th

Emirati and UAE-based expatriate athletes dominate TriYAS by Daman’s ActiveLive ProFIELD for the first time

Six of the best Emirati triathletes will sweat it out against 11 leading UAE-based expatriates in a bid for ProFIELD glory at this year’s TriYAS by Daman’s ActiveLife triathlon.

Taking place at Yas Marina Circuit on Thursday 16thFebruary, this year’s TriYAS will feature a ProFIELD made up predominately of locally-based athletes for the first time in its eight-year history.

The local hero expats and Emiratis will face off against two-time champion Ruedi Wild from Switzerland, who has been invited back to TriYAS and is aiming for this third victory.

Emiratis Faris Al Zaabi and Abdullah Alqeti, from Abu Dhabi, Mohsen Al Ali, Nabil Al Ali, Saif Al Samahi, and Ghanem Al Saadi, all from Fujarah, will also compete against each other in the event’s first ever Emirati ProFIELD category.

Despite having only started competing in triathlons recently, Al Zaabi is a natural athlete and one of the favourites to win the Emirati ProFIELD along with Alqeti, who was the standout athlete in Abu Dhabi Police’s triathlon team.

The pride of Fujairah, Mohsen prefers longer distance competitions but is a fiery racer with lots of confidence and a big heart. He will have his work cut out for him when it comes to beating fellow Fujairah athletes Nabil, Al Samahi, and Al Saadi if he wants to take the TriYAS trophy home to the east coast.

The Emirati pro field rewards the commitment of the local population and aims to encourage more Emiratis to follow in the footsteps of these seven sports stars.

The UAE-based expats competing in the ProFIELD are Filipe Azavedo and Pedro Gomes from Portugal, Ryan Christian from Australia, Ben Parnell, Matt Dewhurst, Andy MacRae and Andy Edwards, all from the UK, Peter Weiss from Denmark, Spain’s Oscar Marquez and German Christian Henn.

Swiss athlete Wild will complete the ProFIELD expat contingent and is favourite to win this year’s TriYAS.

One of the UAE’s biggest mass participation sporting events, TriYAS attracts around 1,300 athletes who push themselves to the limit in the gruelling swimming, cycling and running challenge set over a unique day-to-night course.

The event is open to all members of the community with a series of shorter courses aimed at first-timers as well as younger athletes. Local sports clubs are also encouraged to take part with teams allocated F1 villas usually reserved for the Formula One race stars and their cars.

Al Tareq Al Ameri, CEO of Yas Marina Circuit, said: “TriYAS continues to attract people of all ages, fitness levels and nationalities with the goal of improving their health and to have fun. Each year the number of people taking part for the first time rises by 20 to 30 per cent.”

“Overall our community programmes continue to grow, whether it’s StartYAS, TrainYAS or GoYAS, and TriYAS provides a great opportunity for all to push themselves that little bit further.”